New day, same old crap.

[Mike B.]

This “same old crap”, as you put it, will continue to happen until our city gets serious about its law enforcement and fighting gangs. There are several issues that need to be addressed.

First, there needs to be a sense of urgency instilled in the city commission concerning the need for such action. The longer we wait to address this issue the tougher it will be to overcome. Gang activity is seldom seen in the area of town in which our commissioners live. It’s easy to turn away from a problem when it does not directly affect you. How does the old adage go…”Out of sight, out of mind.” Perhaps if they were the victims, steps would be taken to get things done?

Secondly, our police dept. should become more than a training ground (stepping stone) for bigger and better jobs and pay. Even with the latest contract, pay and benefits need to be better for our officers. I’ve always said that school teachers, police and fire need higher pay, especially if we want to retain them. We should have a waiting line of qualified officers knocking on our city’s door wanting to go to work for us. Officers now employed ought to be looking over their shoulder, knowing if they don’t perform, they will be replaced. I’m not knocking our DCPD they are, for the most part, conscientious men and women who put their physical and mental well-being, and worst case scenario, their lives on the line for us everyday, and they should be well compensated for it!

"The men and women of the Dodge City Police Department are not the sole guardians of law and order. All citizens of this community are "stakeholders" in its well being. As "stakeholders" we are all responsible for the enforcement of law and attention to the problems that challenge every one of us. We must work together in partnership to successfully deal with these challenges and make Dodge City safe and secure." –Chief of Police, John Ball

As a side note, our Chief has his problems also. Training programs and special units can require alot of money. He doesn't set his own budget. If he did, I'd hope we'd see alot of changes.

[Army_of_One]

I agree with you Mike.

Do YOU personally think that there is ANY kind of sense of URGENCY what so ever within the city commission on crime? Do you think they are serious about making Dodge a safer place or do just enough to "check the block". Hell, you can't even get the laws on the books enforced. We don't do DUI check points because we might get too many illegals. Garden City took a tougher stance on people driving without a drivers license but Dodge refused to follow suit. Now if they are not enforcing a curfew which would be a step in the right direction....what do you think is wrong? If I was in a leadership position I think the safety of my community would be first and foremost.

[Monster]

I think it is fair to say too that the people with the most influence in actually being able to do something are probably the ones least affected.

I'll bet Commissioner John Doe, because he lives on Country Club Drive or out in the country itself, isn't personally affected by graffiti, or gang activity, so they have not experienced first hand the annoyance and frustration such activity can cause.

AOO hit the nail on the head - HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES - and for what? Aside from perhaps the improvements to Wyatt Earp I haven't seen anything new or improved in the last 5 years that would make me recommend Dodge City as place to live, work or even visit. Falling standards, failing services and the overall feeling that day by day the illegal immigrant problem gets just a little more out of hand do nothing to persuade me that Dodge is a thriving town and a decent place to live.

No, I take that back, it is thriving, it is a thriving sanctuary city, slowly being taken over by an undesirable element, despite the best efforts of our local law enforcement, who frequently find their hands tied by victims rights groups (the right to sympathy should be one right that you surrender when you choose to commit a crime) or those who cry "minority persecution" without realizing that decent, honest, hard working law abiding folk are really the ones that are rapidly becoming the minority in Dodge City (and notice how I deliberately did not mention any color, creed, race, religion or nationality there).

[Bubba]

Plus the fact that the ones doing the graffitti don't have the balls to do it in the neighborhoods like the country club drive, etc. where the commissioners live.

[Army_of_One]

AOO hit the nail on the head - HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES - and for what? Aside from perhaps the improvements to Wyatt Earp I haven't seen anything new or improved in the last 5 years that would make me recommend Dodge City as place to live, work or even visit. Falling standards, failing services and the overall feeling that day by day the illegal immigrant problem gets just a little more out of hand do nothing to persuade me that Dodge is a thriving town and a decent place to live.

No, I take that back, it is thriving, it is a thriving sanctuary city, slowly being taken over by an undesirable element, despite the best efforts of our local law enforcement, who frequently find their hands tied by victims rights groups (the right to sympathy should be one right that you surrender when you choose to commit a crime) or those who cry "minority persecution" without realizing that decent, honest, hard working law abiding folk are really the ones that are rapidly becoming the minority in Dodge City (and notice how I deliberately did not mention any color, creed, race, religion or nationality there).

I agree 100%. I've been saying this for a LONG time...even before I got the hell out of Dodge.

The thing is....why don't YOU people as Dodge City residents continually BLOW UP THE PHONES at City Hall and email daily. Your vote counts. Vote someone in that will do something. Get rid of the commissioners. Last election ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION wasn't even a topic...and the gang problem was barely mentions as was crime. They (commissioners) don't want to talk about that stuff because it's a failure. You as citizens can MAKE them talk about it...MAKE it an issues. Email is free and it's quick.

[Made in the USA]

AOO, if I remember right, the Commissioners on the last ballot in November were running --Unopposed--!

[Justoo]

AOO, if I remember right, the Commissioners on the last ballot in November were running --Unopposed--!

Get somebody to challenge them and pick the topics to discuss. Bring the issues to the front.

[Army_of_One]

Get somebody to challenge them and pick the topics to discuss. Bring the issues to the front.

I think Dutch should run next time...DUTCH, MIT and Lurker...

[Made in the USA]

I've already done my time in "public service". Let someone else stand up to the plate. :tired:

[ChooPaKaToo]

Or you could take up the local side communities on their offers.. Minneola is looking for fine upstanding citizens. Hell they're willing to give you 10k tax credit if you bring your happy self over here and set up shop in one of our fields.

I believe quite a few other communities have the same little perks. The height of violence about these parts comes down to domestic drunken violence, and a few kids that like to shaving cream each other on halloween.

No little bangers about here.. they'd probably be shot on sight.

Sure it's a 20 minute commute to Dodge, but you're already spending so much on broken windows..